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Monday 19 Oct 2015

Ribblehead Viaduct image scoops national photography award

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National

A stunning image of a freight train curving through the countryside as it approaches a sun-lit Ribblehead Viaduct in North Yorkshire, has won the Network Rail ‘Lines in the Landscape’ Award at this year’s Take a view - Landscape Photographer of the Year competition.

The winning photograph was captured by Robert France from Lancaster. His entry was judged the best of around 500 photographs that capture Britain’s extensive rail network and its relationship with our landscape.

On his win, Robert said: “"I am delighted to have won this prestigious award. Ribblehead Viaduct is a magnificent structure surrounded by beautiful countryside and I was very lucky to capture it in the last rays of winter sun complete with an approaching train.  I am very much looking forward to visiting the Forth Bridge, and the unique photographic opportunities it will provide."”

Commenting on the winning image, competition founder and renowned landscape photographer Charlie Waite said: “Robert’s image was a clear winner for me this year. The strong arc of the train provides a perfect lead-in to the majesty of the viaduct and the slanting, evening light sculpts beautiful shapes in the surrounding landscape. The cooler colour of the freight cars is also key and provides an accent to the warm tones of the overall picture. The juxtaposition of modern track and train with the Victorian structure brings to mind both the history of Britain’s railways and their evolution.”

David Biggs, managing director of property at Network Rail, said: "This competition celebrates something very special – the beauty of our country’s coasts, cities and countryside, much of which can be viewed or visited by our rail network. Ribblehead Viaduct has been carrying freight for more than 140 years and Robert has captured just how beautiful this amazing Victorian masterpiece is and it helps tell the story of how important such structures are in carrying both people and products to their destinations."

As the winner, Robert will have the opportunity to take up an exclusive visit to Britain’s favourite railway landmark, the Forth Rail Bridge in Scotland. Here, weather permitting, he will have ample opportunity to photograph the 125-year old bridge from areas not accessible to the general public. Network Rail will also arrange for the lucky winner to take the engineers’ lift to the top of this iconic structure to capture some amazing views of the Forth and see the Bridge from a completely different perspective.

The best images from this year's competition will be displayed at an exhibition at London Waterloo Station from 23 November.

Notes to editors

HIGH RES FILES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PRINT MEDIA PUBLICATION - please contact the Network Rail media team.

All of the winning and commended photographs that appear in the exhibition can be found in the Awards book ‘Landscape Photographer of the Year: Collection 9’ by AA Publishing, which is available from 19^th October 2015. www.take-a-view.co.uk

Ribblehead Viaduct is 440 yards (400 m) long, and 104 feet (32 m) above the valley floor at its highest point. It is made up of twenty-four arches of 45 feet (14 m) span, with foundations 25 feet (7.6 m) deep. The north end of the viaduct is 13 feet (4.0 m) higher in elevation than the south end.[8] 1.5 million bricks were used in the construction and some of the limestone blocks weighed 8 tons each. (source Wikipedia)